"He's a better person than he is a football player," Fort Bend Marshall head coach James Williams said.

Those who know the senior defensive end only for his exploits on the field can attest to just how good Hollins is there.

In leading Marshall to a 13-1 season and the Division II-4A quarterfinals, Hollins wreaked havoc behind the line of scrimmage on a weekly basis. He totaled 15 sacks and 36 tackles for loss during the regular season, adding 23 quarterback hurries.

His favorite memory from the season appropriately came in the backfield.

"Against Texas City, we were predicted to lose by two touchdowns, and at the end of the game, I sacked (the quarterback) to end it," Hollins said of the 49-28 win in the playoffs.

As good as Hollins' performances were, Williams remains impressed from their first exchange three years ago after he came from nearby Hightower to lead the Buffs.

"My first impression was, 'What a great kid,' " Williams said. "He's a 'yes sir, no sir' type of young man. He's very mature, very polite and a very respectful young man.

"I was very impressed by him as a person."

It hasn't hurt, of course, that the 6-2, 225-pound Hollins has grown into a top defensive talent.

He was named the Touchdown Club of Houston's Defensive Player of the Year last month, topping a list of 10 players, seven committed to major colleges.

"It's just mind-blowing," said Hollins, who committed to UCLA in March but is scheduled to visit Notre Dame this month. "I'm just thankful. It was some of the best players around."

Williams attributes Hollins' ability to make plays to his "get off" when the ball is snapped.

"(It's) second to none. He's going to be aggressive, and he's going to be in the backfield," Williams said. "Whether it's a run or a pass, he's going to get penetration versus the run, and he's going to get into the backfield and get after the quarterback if it's a pass."

Hollins, who had 25 sacks during his sophomore and junior seasons, stayed at defensive end with the Buffs for that reason. It could be the same in college, though Hollins might move to outside linebacker.

"The coaches say they have a lot of big plans for me, so I just want work hard and try to realize those," Hollins said.

Williams expects Hollins to only get better.

"What I like so much about him is he's not content," Williams said. "His strengths at the line of scrimmage are very good, but also his knowledge of the game, his technique and his desire to be the best makes a huge difference."